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For Democrats, one of the principal goals of 2012 is to persuade American voters not to go backwards. Bush/Cheney left all kinds of crises for Obama/Biden to clean up, and Dems intend to urge the electorate not to return to the failures of the recent past.
With this in mind, I suspect Democrats are happier about today's news than Mitt Romney is.
Mitt Romney has the support of George W. Bush.
"I'm for Mitt Romney," Bush told ABC News this morning as the doors of an elevator closed on him, after he gave a speech on human rights a block from his old home -- the White House.
Bush's endorsement isn't a surprise, given that Romney is virtually the Republican Party's nominee. But the 43rd president has been absent from the 2012 campaign and hasn't made any public comments showing his support for Romney.
As endorsements go, it's hard to get much thinner than this -- no joint appearance, no press release, no celebratory passing of the torch. It's just a four-word expression of support as elevator doors were closing.
Nevertheless, Democrats will take it. Romney already had the support of Bush's brother and parents; he's already hired Bush's former team to lead his campaign; and he's already adopted most of the same policy priorities of the failed former president.
The Republican National Committee conceded recently that a Romney presidency would be the same as Bush's presidency, "just updated." Those hoping to characterize Romney as offering Bush's third term -- only more right-wing -- have it pretty easy, and given the scope of Bush's spectacular failures in office, and the fact that many Americans correctly still hold him responsible for national and international problems, that's not a good thing for the GOP in 2012.
I suspect the former Massachusetts governor won't have too much to say about today's endorsement, but I'd like to see Romney answer just one question: how would your presidency be different from Bush's?
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What about the ever-crucial Neil Bush endorsement?
Or Bush's beans! Surely beans endorse Mitt Rmoney!
LOL Trollop !
Here is a humorous repeat that fits perfectly with this blog topic :
All these lukewarm ' endorsements ' of Romney by Radical Right-Wingers this year reminds me of people trying to say nice things at Thanksgiving about Grandma's green jello with shredded carrots and mayonnaise on the top. It is barely edible, hardly likeable and difficult to look at, but if you try really hard you can think of something polite to say about it.
Way to go GOP ! Running Grandma's Thanksgiving ( spineless ) green jello for President !
Somebody. Anybody. Please explain why I am so bored with all of this.
All I can think of is there have been no "Week In Geek" posts on Friday for weeks.
Benen is OK, I reckon, but he is no Summer Ash.
If you disagree with me. Take a number and the line forms to the Left. ;)
It doesn't seem to matter who is in office, the problems we have cannot be fixed by a politician, Republican or Democrat.
We need sensible people, including economists, to replace the career politicians that currently run our government. Not those pandering to constituents for re-election with promises of spending money the US doesn't have and unrealistic tax levels.
Term limits are way overdue.
Reporter: "how would your presidency be different from Bush's?"
Romney: I'm not here to talk about that until after the election. Cue: fade to sunset...
Lol, It must be Mitt's birthday, what a surprise. I do hope Bush can say a few words on Romneys' behalf. Like, I love you, man, your a guy whose won my heart. Oh, Happy, happy joy joy.
I wonder just for whom this seals the deal? How does a shrub pick presidential timber? Do we really need another Harvard MBA at the helm?
"How does a shrub pick presidential timber?"
Excellent wordplay, sir. You should be writing headlines for The New York Times. (Lord knows, they need the help ...)
Cause the last Harvard MBA at the helm did soooooo good a job
wrecking the economy. <roll eyes>I needed to laugh that was hysterical, Robert Duvall, How about Bush can't see the forest for the trees. That reminds me of a bartender I once met in a quaint Boston tavern "Cheers" probably about the same I.Q. too. I'll stick with Pinnochio now that CNN stole my line. CNN is starting to sound a lot like FOX.Is there noone left?
One more reason not to vote for Mitt!
One more reason not to vote for Romney!
What I found most scary was that when the Romney campaign announced that Romney's
reignpresidency would be "just like George W. Bush, just updated." WTH [why the heck] didn't his constituency run away from the room screaming, "Nooooooooooooooooo!"?That's like Al Capone endorsing the electoral candidacy of his accountant !!!
Bush gave a speech on human rights. What a farce.
I think that's a typo. It probably should read "he gave a speech against human rights..."
That definitely makes more sense.
GW Bush = Human Rights
like
The Kochroach Brothers = Humanitarianism
"GW Bush = Human Rights
like
Fascism = Just Good Business"
Now if only we could have some pirate ships blow him up with cannons...
I think my second reference was to the Kockroach Brothers. Although they are fascists.
And I think forcing them to live in the poverty, fear and deadly environments they have created around the planet fits their crimes a bit better.
The pirate ships and taking their turn in the barrel would be too much fun for them.
The twins make a fine couple.One drives the economy over a cliff and the other one plans to.
They still remind me so much of the critics who sit in the balcony making fun of the Muppets or Mortimer and Duke from Trading Places. You saw what happened to them, perhaps they are still drinking artificially flavored orange juice. They have yet to try the real deal and plant an orange tree. My guess is they haven't done that.
Are you kidding? Of course George W. bush is supporting Mitt Romney. The Romney agenda is the Bush agenda; a comprehensive plan to demolish the progress and necessary reforms enacted over the last three years and to return America to the dark days of the Bush presidency. Romney and the GOP have no original ideas. The party establishment is filled with Bush loyalists who want nothing more than to return to Washington and finish the job Dubya's exile had stalled. Romney will be a third GW Bush term. Scary, huh? http://www.sunstateactivist.org
But wait, remember when Bush said that history would look at him positively?
This is a good endorsement, Americans will realize that Bush was awesome and we'll vote for Romney right quick!
I didn't know Bush had HIV, poor fellow.
I don't think this endorsement is doing Mitt any favors! How's that for understatement?
Yee-ha. Not. I thought he had "disappeered" to Texas with Rick Perry.
So in that photo, is Romney applauding Bush's hair?
This is quite funny especially after the news of Bush and old man Chaney being convicted now of War Crimes! Don't know about anyone else but having someone somewhat endorse me that has been convicted, let alone even accused of War Crimes... Yeah, thanks but no thanks! Then again I don't care for Romney in the first place, for anything that he stands for, if you can even figure out what he even stands for! Ridiculous!
Fidel endorsed Raul and Rush will soon endorse Gollum.
While America continues to amuse itself with the ongoing escapades of Jughead vs. Richie Rich, there is real news being made elsewhere in the world. Congratulations, Willard. You've just been endorsed by a War Criminal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OAQ6niJpk-c
Why isn't the American press covering this, I wonder?
Money, money, money. If it gets too hot they will get out of the kitchen. The choice is clear Money or True Journalistic ethics. To thyself be true. Pay close attention to Reporters and Newscasters we no longer here from. It's time to test the waters. Literally.
I'm sure this won't backfire on Romney at all. I mean, it's not like Bush left office with horrendous approval ratings and had a massive crowd mockingly chanting at him as he flew back to Texas... oh, wait...
Hell just going by the simple logic that even most Republicans nowadays have firmly disowned Bush as if he's their gay son this isn't going to work in Romney's favour. People just don't like Bush and anyone who's going to remind them of Bush's reign of terror isn't going to be looked on in too positive a light.
He has learned from his eight years in the White House. He uses small words economically nowadays...
Dems should regret not calling the economic downturn the Bush Depression. If they had used that term consistently since Obama took office, Republicans would fighting for their political lives. And Bush's endorsement would be the kiss of death.
Hot damn now Mitt and George AKA mutt and Jeff can wear those "I'm with stupid" tees!!!
Every time that I'm tempted to write something negative about GWB, I remember that Darth Cheney was the real brains behind their vile acts.
Along the lines of the question "how would your presidency be different from Bush's?", let's back up even further:
"Given the lavish treatment of the wealthiest individuals and corporations under the Ryan budget (which you have termed "brilliant"), how does your strategic thinking differ from "trickle down economics"? Other than "trickling down" how is all of that money zooming to the top supposed get into general circulation when trillions of dollars are already inactive on the sidelines in the economy today?"
...or going to Singapore with the co founder of Facebook for instance.
Question for Team Romney:
Why isn't GW campaigning with you, for you on your behalf, or acting (ever, at all) as a spokesperson/surrogate for you?
I mean, everyone actually knows why, but the fact that this is never brought up is really frustrating - it should be! ..is he really just too busy "doin his own thing"? working on his Bush Center For Peace or whatever..?